I do not think Russia and Iran need to be successful in their hacking efforts to undermine the integrity of our elections. The fact that Russia and Iran are trying to interfere with our elections likely does enough to raise concerns in Americans over the integrity and legitimacy of our elections. In 2016 even though little evidence supports the theory that Russia directly hacked our election, it started to raise the doubt that our elections are safe and secure. In my opinion, raising doubt in our elections alone is a big win for Russia.

It is undeniable that politicians have started to take aim at election security at home and abroad. One of the biggest issues, I believe, is the lack of education on our electoral process. Most Americans know the basics of how our elections work; however, they are uninformed on details such as election security. Hopefully, we will see more people become informed by the time of our next presidential race.

This is a very important document for Americans to read because it confirms that there are attempts by foreign powers to manipulate our democracy, but our democracy has remained strong! However, it concerns me that the issue of election manipulation has become a baton for political opponents to try and hit each other with. To resolve that part of the problem, our security and intelligence communities should keep Americans as up-to-date as possible with election security information during an election cycle.

I agree with what you said about the red flags and this individual's security clearance. However, I think it is a little extreme to say that these employees in these occupations need to be constantly under some form of surveillance. If an individual has enough red flags, already they probably should not get the job, as opposed to hiring then stalking them. People are adults; they don't need their employer constantly watching every move.

It is a difficult situation because of the attitude in the scientific community in support of more collaboration. I sympathize with the scientific community, and I understand why they would not want more red tape interfering with their international collaborations. However, when truly sensitize information is at risk of theft, it is far more important to ensure the security of the research. I also think that we have to consider which countries we are collaborating with. China has a questionable relationship with its business and academic fields abroad, so more security should be required when dealing with China. However, with countries such as Australia, Japan, and most of the EU, I do not think the same scrutiny is required.

Fascinating document on the uncomfortable topic of foreign intelligence gathering through non-US citizens living in the United States. I learned a lot from this case study, such as the red flags that might be raised, such as split loyalty or random trips, and a motive such as ego. The biggest lesson I learned from this case study is the importance of adequate background screening for non-citizens seeking high-level study or work opportunities in the United States.

Hacktivism seems like it may be the wave of the future. It is important in my opinion however, that we set in stone what counts at hacktivist terrorism vs hacktivist actions that do not count as terrorism. The definition of terrorism has seen a lot of abuse since September 11th and I feel its important for combatting cyberterrorism that we have a good definition to follow.

I also appreciated the part about ensuring the threat of domestic terrorism will diminish over generations. I think that it is important for the American people to see that the government does have a long term plan in preparation for handling domestic terrorism.

It is good to see the DHS taking the threat of far-right terror seriously. It is a problem that has always persisted in our country irrespective of civil rights trends and movements. The nature of far-right terrorism, however, has always been changing. Importantly, the report mentions that domestic terrorism in recent history is often carried out by lone wolves, small groups, and informal movement structures. It is important to note how domestic terrorism has evolved, so law enforcement can appropriately adjust its tactics to combat it. Social media offers a new challenge for law enforcement. Social media provides anyone with a device a pedestal to spread and promote their ideology and spread instructional information on conducting attacks, weapon manufacturing, and recruitment. New steps can always be taken to mitigate terrorism. However, the most important goal should be to create a society where people do not feel they need terrorism to air their grievances. It is also vital to have programs to assist those in the deradicalization process re-adjust back into society without feeling the pressure to return to their previous worldview.